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US energy secretary says G7 can lead global emissions cuts

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

OTARU, Japan (AP) — Wealthy nations can lead by example in cutting carbon emissions, though much faster action is needed to stem global warming, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press. Granholm and other senior energy and environment officials from the Group of Seven advanced economies are in Hokkaido in northern Japan this week for meetings on climate change, energy security and related issues.“That’s what we hope to do is lead by example,” Granholm said after touring the world’s first and only liquefied hydrogen carrier, a ship that showcases Japanese efforts to transform heavily polluting coal into emissions-free hydrogen power. At the G-7 summit in May last year, member nations set a common goal of achieving a fully or predominantly decarbonized electricity supply by 2035.The fact that carbon emissions are continuing to rise despite massive investments in cleaner energy is “very disappointing,” Granholm said. But she noted t...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Can the boss at my job MAKE his staff work out?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Corinne and it's about work and working out. Here's her email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime, I'm writing because I think my boss has gone overboard in what he is requiring from his staff. About two months ago, the boss thought it would be good to do a team building exercise. So he paid for everyone to get an app that tracks their daily exercise. That sounds fine, but it's actually being required to participate. That means everyday, you have to write down in the app what exercise you do. Then the boss checks everyone's app at the end of the week and if you haven't participated, you get called out for it in front of everyone, and it's clear the boss is upset about it. I feel like this is a BIG overstep, but I'm the only one who wants to do something about it. The rest of my "team" which is about 9 people says it's easier to just fake the exercise y...

Ask Amy: Legacy employee contemplates retirement

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

Dear Amy: I have worked for the same company for more than 30 years, and I am ready to retire in a few months.They have no idea that I am contemplating retirement.What would be an acceptable length of notice to provide them?Is it just like getting a new job and providing the standard two- or three-week notice, or should I provide them more notice since it is a retirement?I should note that when others in the organization have hit the 25 and 30 year work anniversaries, there were parties, speeches, and gifts given.I suspect these same employees also received certain benefits I have not been given.However, when I hit my 25- and 30-year work anniversaries, there was nothing. No one in the organization acknowledged it. I said nothing, but it really hurt my feelings.I have received perfect performance reviews for the last 10 years, so I know they are happy with my work.Do I owe them more than a two-week notice?— Ready to GoDear Ready to Go: My research on this topic indicates that ...

Italy proposes crackdown on 'eco-vandals' damaging monuments

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

The Italian government proposed stiffer penalties on Tuesday (11 April) for those who damage monuments or heritage sites. This was in response to protesters who targeted artwork and other landmarks calling for stronger climate action."Those who commit these acts must also assume financial responsibility," Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said following a cabinet meeting. He proposed fines up to €60,000.Both houses of parliament must approve the bill.Climate protesters have blocked traffic in recent months and thrown paint or other defaced monuments, buildings famous and paintings in galleries.They also targeted the "Barcaccia", the famous fountain that sits in front of the Spanish Steps in Rome, as well as the Italian Senate and Milan's La Scala Opera house. They also sprayed orange paint on Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.They blocked a bridge connecting Venice and the mainland in December.Sangiuliano, Culture Minister, stated that cleaning the Senate would cost approximately 40,00...

Italian lawmakers urge policy changes to support Iran’s pro-democracy opposition

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

A multi-partisan group of Italian senators and members of parliament held a conference on Wednesday to express support for Iranian protesters and pro-democracy activists, and to call for changes in Italian and European Union policies toward the Islamic Republic. The conference coincided with the release of a statement, signed by a majority of Italian senators, “supporting the Iranian people in their struggle for a secular and democratic republic.”Both the statement and conference made explicit reference to the National Council of Resistance of Iran as the prospective guarantor of that future system of government. The lawmakers also pointed to a “ten-point plan” for transition to this system, authored by Maryam Rajavi, the individual designated by the NCRI to serve as transitional president when the current regime is overthrown.In advance of the conference, former Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi, now head of the Senate European Union Affairs Committee, led an Italian delegation in meet...

Deadly clashes in Karabakh can trigger new conflict escalation

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

The ongoing tensions in the Karabakh region between Azerbaijan and Armenia threaten post-conflict stability and reconciliation. The unwillingness of Armenia to sign a post-war peace treaty with Azerbaijan recognizing the territorial integrity of both states increases future conflict risks in the region. During the post-war period, several deadly clashes happened in the Karabakh region and at the Azerbaijani-Armenian border - writes Shahmar Hajiyev, Senior Advisor at the Center of Analysis of International Relations.The end of the long-lasting war between Armenia and Azerbaijan opened up new opportunities for both countries to start economic cooperation and reconciliation. After signing the November Declaration and agreeing to a ceasefire, the key challenge became a post-war peace treaty between two South Caucasus countries. However, all recent developments show that Yerevan is seemingly unable to accept that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, as it is recognized in UN resolutions.It is...

Floating home at Barnhill Marina

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

This spacious, two-story floating home in the Oakland-Alameda estuary offers a unique, comfortable and affordable home in the central Bay Area.Enjoy the water lifestyle with beautiful sunrises and sunsets plus inviting space. The lower level includes a spacious living room with stove/fireplace, dining area, kitchen and a half bathroom.The upstairs features a large bedroom and full bathroom suite with lots of closet space. Sliding glass doors lead to a balcony, along with many windows and skylights creating a light and inviting space.The property is near shopping at Alameda Landing and Marina Village.Location: 2394 Mariner Square Dr #B-8Offered at: $415,000Listing agent: Ela Strong, Realtor DRE #00890577 (510) 579-4179 [email protected] provided by: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties BHHSDrysdale.com

Marin-based furniture retailer RH (Restoration Hardware) cutting over 400 jobs

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

RH, the company formerly called Restoration Hardware, has announced plans to lay off about 440 employees, including 58 at its headquarters in Corte Madera.The local layoffs will take effect May 24, according to a notice sent to the California Employment Development Department, the Marin County Board of Supervisors, the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay and the mayor of Corte Madera.The company outlined its plans in a quarterly filing late last month with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It reported that net revenue for the 2022 fiscal year was $3.59 billion, down from $3.759 billion the prior year. Fourth-quarter net revenue fell from $903 million in 2021 to $772 million last year.Gary Friedman, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, said the retail furniture industry is battling against lingering effects of the pandemic, inflation, rising interest rates, a dip in home values, a depressed stock market and the banking crisis.“It’s times like these that businesse...

Marin County to factor racial equity in road paving plans

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

As part of its new commitment to have racial equity shape how county funds are spent, Marin County will use the racial demographics of neighborhoods to determine which roads to repair first.“Our proposal is to prioritize benefits to underserved communities when developing an annual paving plan,” Pauletta Jordan, an assistant director in the county public works department, told the Board of Supervisors during a recent budget workshop.The plan was unveiled as an example of how county departments are working closely with the county’s Office of Equity to recalibrate their priorities to focus on equity.Jamillah Jordan, the county’s equity director, told supervisors that her office has developed a race equity budget tool that all of the county’s departments will eventually be expected to use.She said the tool will “help our departments think through how they can allocate resources in an equitable and equity-centered way.”“We know that resources are finite and we want to do things differen...

A trip to Yosemite led to a fresh look at John Muir in ‘Guardians of the Valley’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:54 GMT

In 1998, journalist Dean King went on a family trip to Yosemite National Park for the first time. “Inspiration Point, true to its name, was incredibly inspiring,” King recalled recently in a video interview about his new book, “Guardians of the Valley: John Muir and the Friendship that Saved Yosemite.” “The magnificence and the scale really redefined how I thought about America. I knew at that moment I wanted to write about Yosemite.”It took years as King worked on other projects. His research led him to John Muir, who is heralded as the man who helped save Yosemite. As he dug deeper, however, he realized that Muir’s work was really done in tandem with Robert Underwood Johnson, who was in many ways Muir’s opposite – an urbane New York publisher who worked with everyone from President Ulysses S. Grant to Nikola Tesla. The two men became fast friends – it was Johnson who encouraged Muir to form the organization that became the Sierra Club – and it was their work together that both cem...